Support device and filling device

Abstract

The invention relates to a support device (10) for radially supporting containers (12), in particular can-like containers (12), with variably adjustable guide diameters, comprising an adapter element (14), wherein the adapter element (14) is rotatable about a first axis of rotation (D1), with at least one first concave cutout (16), with at least one second concave cutout (18), wherein the first and the second concave cutout (16, 18) differ, and an adjusting element (20) which is coupled to the adapter element (14) for adjusting the first or the second concave cutout (16, 18) in such a way that by actuating the adjusting element (20) the adapter element (14) is rotatable from the at least one first concave cutout (16) to the at least one second concave cutout (18).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a support device for radially supporting containers, in particular can-like containers, and a filling device for filling and transporting containers, in particular can-like containers, with one or more support devices.

[0002] Such a filling device for filling and transporting containers, particularly can-like containers, is already known from the prior art and is used in the assembly line processing and handling of containers. The filling device typically has a support plate as a base, on which one or more rigid support devices are attached around the circumference.

[0003] In the context of the present invention, the term "container" refers in particular, but not exclusively, to containers with a substantially circular cross-section, e.g., bottles, cans, or jars, which may be made of glass, metal, or plastic in the usual manner. The term "substantially circular" in the context of the present invention does not refer exclusively to containers that are geometrically round, but also, for example, to oval, regularly polygonal, etc., which then have a substantially circular, but also, for example, an oval or polygonal cross-section.

[0004] The filling device can be used in a process flow for cleaning and filling containers. It can be integrated into a setup of existing transport devices. These transport devices are positioned and adjusted to pick up containers from conveyor belts and transport them to the next station, e.g., the filling device, and from there, e.g., to a capping station.

[0005] A key challenge when filling thin-walled containers, such as cans, is maintaining the stability of the container's position during the filling process. The most critical factor is whether the container wobbles back and forth, potentially causing it to tilt due to the momentum of the liquid during filling, or even be forced out of the gripping device. While guide rails are known to support the containers, these are inadequate for compensating for geometric fluctuations caused by the thermal expansion of the material during operation and filling. Furthermore, the guide rails require adjustments for each container, resulting in significant changeover times.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a support unit for supporting and guiding containers, which can be quickly and easily adapted to new formats. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling device with a support unit.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by a support unit with the features of claim 1 and by a filling device with the features of claim 8.

[0008] The first aspect of the invention is a support device for radially supporting containers. This support device is particularly advantageous for can-like containers. The support device is characterized by a variably adjustable guide diameter, which can be efficiently adjusted to the container format to be filled and thus supported. For this purpose, the support device comprises an adapter element and an adjustment element. The adapter element is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and has at least one first concave cutout and at least one second concave cutout, wherein the first and second concave cutouts differ. The basic shape of the adapter element can be circular. Furthermore, the at least one first concave cutout provides a first guide diameter, and the at least one second cutout provides a second guide diameter.The adjustment element is coupled to the adapter element for adjusting the first or the second concave cutout in such a way that, by actuating the adjustment element, the adapter element can be rotated from the at least one first concave section to the at least one second concave section.

[0009] By simply rotating the concave sections of the adapter element around the axis of rotation, the support device can be quickly adapted to a new container format. This not only simplifies changeovers when changing formats, but also significantly reduces changeover times.

[0010] It is conceivable that an adapter element has more than two concave cutouts, for example four concave cutouts, all of which are different from each other.

[0011] The adjustment element of the support device can be mechanically actuated, i.e., by means of a directly or indirectly coupled drive. This allows for particularly precise alignment of the respective concave section of the adapter element. Alternatively, the adjustment element of the support device can also be manually actuated. This allows for manual adjustment of the concave sections, thus enabling a space-saving design.

[0012] A particularly simple adjustment of the adapter element or a simple and easily implemented operation of the adjustment element results if the adjustment element can be rotated about a second axis of rotation, whereby the second axis of rotation is arranged parallel to the first axis of rotation.

[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous for the support device if the adapter element and the adjusting element are detachably coupled. This allows for the replacement of both the adjusting element and the adapter element, thus simplifying maintenance. It is particularly advantageous if the detachable coupling or connection is positively locking. This can be implemented, for example, using a locking mechanism or a tongue-and-groove connection. This also ensures improved and simplified maintenance and particularly good force transmission for adjusting the respective concave cutout of the adapter element using the adjusting element.

[0014] Switching from one cutout to another of the adapter element requires very little space and force if the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are congruent.

[0015] For automatic or mechanical actuation of the adjusting element, it may be advantageous if a rotatable translation element is provided in the support device, which is in effective engagement with the adjusting element, so that the adjusting element can be actuated via the translation element.

[0016] The transmission of force during the actuation of the adjusting element can be designed efficiently if the adjusting element and the translation element have interlocking teeth.

[0017] It is particularly advantageous if the translation element or its toothing is designed in such a way that a change in position of the adapter element from the first concave cutout to the second concave cutout in the state installed in a filling system corresponds to the distance between two gripping devices of the filling device.

[0018] A second aspect of the invention is a filling device for filling and transporting containers, particularly can-like containers. The filling device has an annular support plate. The support plate is designed such that one or more gripping devices can be positioned and attached to it. To adequately support the containers during filling and prevent tipping or tilting, one or more support devices according to the first aspect of the invention are provided. It is particularly advantageous if one or more additional gripping devices are provided for grasping, holding, and guiding the containers, with each gripping device being assigned to one support device.

[0019] This filling device can be easily and quickly converted to different formats due to the various concave cutouts of the adapter element of the support device.

[0020] Furthermore, it can be advantageous for the filling device to have an annular support plate parallel to the carrier plate. The support plate is coupled to the adjusting element of the support device, which allows the adjusting element to be actuated either as soon as the filling device changes the format of the container to be filled, or prevents unauthorized actuation of the adjusting element.

[0021] This can cause the adjustment element to be actuated by a movement of the support plate, thereby changing the supporting concave cutout of the adapter element.

[0022] Furthermore, it can be advantageous in the filling device if the support plate is operatively connected to the translation element. The operative connection is designed such that rotating the support plate around a pivot axis actuates the adjusting element, changing the cutout of the adapter element and its position relative to the support plate. This means that rotating the support plate ultimately results in the adapter element rotating around a pivot axis, thus rotating the adapter element from one concave cutout to the next.

[0023] For adjusting the required concave cutout of the adapter element, it is particularly advantageous if the support plate has external teeth, and the teeth of the translation element engage with these external teeth. This allows the rotation of the support plate to be transferred to the adjustment element, thus enabling the adapter element to be adjusted.

[0024] Advantageously, the translation element, and in particular its toothing, can be designed such that a change in position of the adapter element from the first concave cutout to the second concave cutout corresponds to the distance between two gripping devices of the filling device.

[0025] To change the concave cutout, the support plate of the filling device is adjusted. The support device moves along the circumference of the support plate. The distance traveled corresponds to the distance between two gripping devices. The transmission element ensures that the support device covers the distance between the gripping devices while the adapter element rotates, so that the concave cutout is always positioned to support the container at the predetermined location. The transmission ratio depends on the number of concave cutouts in the adapter element and the distance between the gripping devices. The tooth ratio of the transmission element must be designed such that the following equation is satisfied: Abstand der Greifvorrichtungen in ∘ = 360 ∘ / Anzahl kokaver Ausschnitte .

[0026] Furthermore, in the filling device, it can be advantageous if the support plate for actuating the adjustment element can be decoupled from the carrier plate in order to drive the support plate manually or by motor.

[0027] This allows the support device to be adjusted using the support plate without having to rotate the carrier plate. Therefore, a smaller, less powerful drive can be used, or, after decoupling, the adjustment can simply be made manually.

[0028] Further embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0029] The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment, which is explained in more detail with reference to the figures. These show: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a support device in a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a support device in a second embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a section of a filling device with a support device; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a section of a filling device with several support devices.

[0030] In the Figs. 1 and 2 Each figure shows a support device 10 for radially supporting containers 12, in particular can-like containers 12, with variably adjustable guide diameters. This support device 10 is especially suitable for supporting such containers 12 during the filling process in a filling device 30. The support devices of the Figs. 1 and 2Each support element 10 has an adapter element 14 and an adjustment element 20. The adapter element 14 is rotatable about a first axis of rotation D1. To support different containers 12, the support device 10 has at least a first concave cutout 16 and at least a second concave cutout 18, and in the present embodiments, a third and a fourth concave cutout 17, 19. As in the Figs. 1 and 2 As can be seen, the four concave cutouts 16 to 19 differ from each other in their respective diameters. The adjusting element 20 serves to adjust the respective concave cutout 16 to 19. For this purpose, the adjusting element is coupled to the adapter element 14, so that by actuating the adjusting element 20, the adapter element 14 can be rotated from at least one first concave cutout 16 to at least one second concave cutout 18, or to the third and fourth cutouts 17, 19.

[0031] The actuation of the adjusting element 20 of the Fig. 1 It can be operated manually. No additional element is required for this. The adjusting element 20 is rotated manually around its axis of rotation D2. The second axis of rotation is parallel to, and in this special case even coincident with, the first axis of rotation.

[0032] To transmit the actuation of the adjusting element 20 to the adapter element 14, these are detachably connected to each other via a positive-locking connection. In this case, this is a tongue-and-groove connection (not shown).

[0033] In contrast to manual operation, the adjusting element 20 of the second embodiment is Fig. 2designed to be mechanically actuated. For this purpose, a rotatable transmission element 22 is provided. Due to the interlocking teeth 24 of the adjusting element 20 and the transmission element 22, these are in effective engagement, so that the adjusting element 20 can be actuated via the transmission element 22.

[0034] In the Fig. 3 and 4 Each figure shows a section of a filling device 30 for filling and transporting containers 12, in particular can-like containers 12. Filling devices have one or more gripping devices 32 (shown in dashed lines) for gripping, holding, and guiding containers 12 and an annular support plate 34. The support plate is designed such that one or more gripping devices 32 can be positioned and attached to the support plate 34. Additionally, one or more support devices 10 are shown according to the second embodiment. Fig. 2 provided. Each gripping device 32 is assigned a support device 10.

[0035] Since the filling plant 30 has a large diameter and therefore many gripping devices 32 with support devices 10, for better overview it is in Fig. 3 Only a support device 10 with an associated gripping device 32 and its gripping arm pair 33 is shown. Fig. 4 Several gripping devices 32 and support devices 10 are shown. Furthermore, their directions of movement during a change from one concave cutout to the next concave cutout 16 to 19 are indicated by arrows.

[0036] Additionally, an annular support plate 36 is provided parallel to the carrier plate 34. The support plate 36 is operatively connected or coupled to the adjusting element 20 of the support device 10 by means of the translation element 22. In the present embodiments of the Fig. 3 and 4 The toothing 24 of the translation element 22 engages with the outer toothing 38 of the support plate 34, thus transmitting the rotation of the support plate 36 about an axis of rotation to the adjusting element 20. By actuating the adjusting element 32 and its rotation about the second axis of rotation, or the corresponding first axis of rotation D1, D2, the cutout 16, 18 of the adapter element 14 changes, and the position of the adapter element 14 relative to the support plate 36 changes.

[0037] The translation element 22 is designed such that a change in position of the adapter element 14 from the first concave cutout 16 to the second concave cutout 18 corresponds to the distance A between two gripping devices 32. When the cutout 16 is changed to 19, the support plate is rotated about its axis of rotation by the distance between two gripping devices. In this case, the distance A between two gripping devices 32 corresponds to a rotation of the adapter element 12 by 45° about the first axis of rotation D1.

[0038] For this movement of the support plate, it can be decoupled from the carrier plate 34 in order to drive the support plate 36 manually or by motor.

[0039] During this movement, the carrier plate 34, including the gripping device 32, remains in its previous position and is therefore not moved. Reference symbol list

[0040] 10 Support device 12 Containers 14 Adapter element 16 First concave cutout 17 Third concave 18 Second concave cutout 19 Fourth concave cutout 20 Adjusting element 22 Translation element 24 Teeth 30 Filling device 32 Gripping device 33 Gripping arm 34 Carrier plate 36 Support plate 38 External teeth Distance D1 first axis of rotation D2 second axis of rotation

Claims

1. Support device (10) for radially supporting containers (12), in particular can-like containers (12), with variably adjustable guide diameters, comprising: - an adapter element (14), wherein the adapter element (14) is rotatable about a first axis of rotation (D1), ∘ with at least one first concave cutout (16), ∘ with at least one second concave cutout (18), wherein the first and the second concave cutout (16, 18) differ, and - an adjusting element (20) which is coupled to the adapter element (14) for adjusting the first or the second concave cutout (16, 18) in such a way that by actuating the adjusting element (20) the adapter element (14) is rotatable from the at least one first concave cutout (16) to the at least one second concave cutout (18).

2. Support device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the adjusting element (20) can be operated mechanically or manually.

3. Support device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the adjusting element (20) is rotatable about a second axis of rotation (D2), wherein the second axis of rotation (D2) is arranged parallel to the first axis of rotation (D1).

4. Support device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the adapter element (14) and the adjusting element (20) are detachably coupled to each other, in particular via a positive locking connection.

5. Support device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the first axis of rotation (D1) and the second axis of rotation (D2) are congruent.

6. Support device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that a rotatable translation element (22) is provided which engages with the adjusting element (20) so that the adjusting element (20) can be actuated via the translation element (22).

7. Support device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe adjusting element (20) and the translation element (22) have interlocking teeth (24).

8. Filling device (30) for filling and transporting containers (12), in particular can-like containers (12), comprising an annular support plate (34) designed such that one or more gripping devices (32) can be positioned and attached to the support plate (34), and one or more support devices (10) according to one of the preceding claims, and optionally one or more gripping devices (32) for gripping, holding and guiding containers (12), wherein a support device (10) is assigned to each gripping device (32).

9. Filling device (30) according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that a ring-shaped support plate (36) is provided parallel to the support plate (34), wherein the support plate (36) is coupled to the adjusting element (20) of the support device (10).

10. Filling device (30) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that the support plate (36) is operatively connected to the translation element (22), the operative connection being designed such that a rotation of the support plate (36) about an axis of rotation actuates the adjusting element (20) in such a way that it changes the cutout (16, 18) of the adapter element (14) and the position of the adapter element (14) in relation to the support plate (36).

11. Filling device (30) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the support plate (36) has an external toothing (36), and the toothing (24) of the translation element (22) engages in the external toothing (36) to transmit the rotation of the support plate (36) to the adjusting element (20).

12. Filling device (30) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by the fact thatthe translation element (22) is designed such that a change in position of the adapter element (14) from the first concave cutout (16) to the second concave cutout (18) corresponds to the distance between two gripping devices (32).

13. Filling device (30) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized by the fact that the support plate (36) for actuating the adjusting element (20) can be decoupled from the carrier plate (34) in order to drive the support plate (36) manually or by motor.

Images